PORTLAND, Ore. -- Investigators are searching for the cause of a fire that heavily damaged an apartment complex on Southwest Oleson Road.

Fire crews were called to the Montclair Terrace apartments at 4 a.m. When firefighters arrived, they found heavy flames burning on a third-floor balcony and on the roof of the building. Crews carved open holes in the roof to help get ventilation

Crews were able to knock down the majority of the fire in the building's third story within twelve minutes of arriving on scene. Lake Oswego and Portland firefighters helped Tualatin Valley crews extinguish the blaze.

Eight people were displaced by the fire, officials said.

"We heard a loud noise of some kind. I think someone broke the glass to the fire extinguisher. I got up and I started to smell smoke," said Steven Crist, who lives at the apartment complex. "I looked over and I saw flames pouring out right next door."

There's no word on whether the residents involved have renter's insurance.

Fire Damages Apartments On Oleson Road